Jeremy Clarkson: made comments on Gordon Brown to the Australian press

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has apologised for calling the prime minister, Gordon Brown, a "one-eyed Scottish idiot" after a barrage of criticism from politicians and disability groups.

The BBC star, who is currently in Australia on tour, said in a statement: "In the heat of the moment I made a remark about the prime minister's personal appearance for which, upon reflection, I apologise."

Earlier, Clarkson had compared Brown to Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, after Rudd had just addressed the country on the global financial crisis.

"It's the first time I've ever seen a world leader [Rudd] admit we really are in deep shit," Clarkson was reported as saying in the Australian newspaper.

"He genuinely looked terrified. Poor man, he's actually seen the books. We have this one-eyed Scottish idiot who keeps telling us everything's fine and he's saved the world and we know he's lying, but he's smooth at telling us."

Clarkson, whose Sunday Times columns are syndicated in the Weekend Australian, was referring to Brown, who lost his sight in one eye during after an accident playing rugby as a teenager.

Scottish politicians have urged the BBC to take Clarkson off air.

Lord Foulkes, a former Labour Scottish minister, said he was "outraged" at the presenter's remarks. Foulkes said: "If the BBC banned Jonathan Ross for what he said and they have taken Carol Thatcher off air for something she said in private, then something should be done about Clarkson."

"He has insulted Gordon Brown three times over – accusing him of being a liar, having a go at him for having a physical handicap and for his nationality.

"It is an absolute outrage of the worst kind. Disabled people will be up in arms about it, Scottish people will be angry – and it should concern all of us that the prime minister has been accused of lying."

Clarkson's description of Brown was branded "offensive" and "totally unacceptable" by a charity for the blind.

Lesley-Anne Alexander, the chief executive for the Royal National Institute of Blind People, said: "Clarkson's description of the prime minister is offensive. Any suggestion that equates disability with incompetence is totally unacceptable. We would be happy to help Clarkson understand the positive contribution people with sight loss make to society."

Angus Robertson, the SNP leader at Westminster, joined the chorus of disapprobal, saying the comments were "totally inappropriate".

"Everyone should be upset about someone making jokes about someone else's partial blindness and nationality, but knowing Jeremy Clarkson I don't hold out a lot of hope that he will be apologetic," he said.

Before Clarkson's apology, a Downing Street spokesman declined to respond to Clarkson's description, saying: "I don't think I'm going to get into those comments."

Asked at a daily briefing of Westminster reporters how Brown would respond to the suggestion that Rudd was being more honest with voters about the economic crisis, the spokesman said: "Clarkson is entitled to his own interpretation of the economic circumstances."

The BBC Trust's editorial complaints unit said a special edition of the motoring show, aired the previous July, in which Clarkson and co-host James May attempted to drive a pickup truck to the magnetic north pole, broke its guidelines.

In the programme, Clarkson and May were shown drinking gin and tonics as they raced Richard Hammond, who was using a sled pulled by a team of dogs, to reach the pole.

Clarkson's latest indiscretion follows hot on the heels of the storm surrounding BBC One Show presenter Carol Thatcher being thrown off the programme for referring to male tennis player as a "golliwog" while off-air.